To Hell and Back (Mel Goes to Hell Series Book 4) (6 page)

Mel wondered if he was joking. "I do?" She followed Luce's gaze to a table of fit-looking men who were engaged in what appeared to be a heated discussion, punctuated with occasional glances in their direction. The exception was one man who seemed intent on staring right at her.

Luce shrugged, as if it was no surprise that other men desired his angel. "Well, if he's thinking about coming over here to ask you out, I'd better show him he's wasting his time." He pulled her close and delivered a passionate kiss, letting his hands linger on her body as he looked deep into her eyes. "I feel a sudden urge to cancel all my afternoon meetings and spend some very personal time with you, my sweet Melody." Another kiss followed, making Mel blush as she noticed that all of the men were staring at them now.

Recognition flared and a memory surfaced. Gently, she disengaged from Luce. "He's Exousiai! They all are. I didn't realise Raphael had summoned all of them, or that they'd arrived already. I need to speak to them. You enjoy your meetings and I'll see you back at the office later this afternoon." She paused, then added, "And no sending anyone to Level Eight without asking me first! If you keep sending staff back to Hell, no one will have any idea what they're doing, and it takes so long to train new staff. Yes, even if they're not very good at their jobs, that's better than nothing."

A look of mild irritation crossed Luce's face, but it was quickly replaced by one that was far more calculating. "I'll be lenient with the Water Unit boys if you agree to come out to dinner with me tonight. I'd really like some oysters." Mel smothered a laugh and nodded. With one last smouldering look, Luce turned and strode back to the office.

Shaking her head, Mel made her way over to the Exousiai. She singled out the one she'd recognised. "It's Sarkis, isn't it? I haven't seen you since the summer of the rebellion, with all that brutality in Wexford." She extended her hand to the man, who seemed too stunned to respond. After some time, he grasped Mel's fingers and kissed them, which only made her laugh.

"I'm honoured that you remember me after so long. I was sent to help Patrick and I felt like such a failure when he said we'd have to call in an expert to sort out the trouble. When you showed up, Patrick was so excited to see you that I thought you were…" Sarkis coughed, his cheeks turning rosy. "I'm deeply sorry."

Mel laughed merrily. "I'd been in France so long that I kissed Patrick's cheeks without thinking. You almost exploded as you called him and me some names I'd never heard of and blamed all the brutality on him missing his mistress. Poor Patrick was devastated to lose so many souls on both sides of the conflict." She eyed him as she prised her hand from his grasp. "It happens to the best of us. Humans have free will to make the most appalling choices sometimes."

Sarkis seemed to take heart at her words, covering his emotion by ordering his colleagues to get her a chair, a drink and anything else she wanted.

Amid the whirlwind of activity, one man managed to get her attention. "Please excuse me, miss," he began nervously, "but the man you were having lunch with. I'm not sure if you knew, but he looked a lot like Lucifer."

There was a sudden, stunned silence – broken by a half-dozen voices all speaking at once.

"Lord of Hell…"

"Seductive devil…"

"No angel is safe…"

"…drag you down into Hell and corrupt you…"

"Don't fall for his lies!"

"Raphael said we have to protect you, but…"

Sarkis was the only one who remained silent, his eyes intent on Mel.

She held up her hands for quiet. "I understand your concern, especially since he most definitely is Lucifer. He's also my responsibility. Your concern should be the rest of the demons in his corporation. There are plenty of them around and every one of them just loves making life difficult."

"Ma'am, I'm not sure you realise just how seductive the devil can be," a hard-faced man piped up. "He'll persuade you to fall and you'll be powerless to stop him from dragging you down to Hell with him. It's a good thing we're here to protect you. We'll form a security detail immediately to escort you home and arrange a round-the-clock rotation."

Mel's expression hardened, but she forced herself to keep smiling. "I thank you for the sentiment, but I mean what I say. By all means, stay away from Luce if you fear for your soul. Focus on the other demons. As for seductive – I don't think you realise how much I know about him. I've seen his lair in Hell, as well as some of his regular haunts here on Earth. Would you like to know how good he is in bed?" She winked impishly, before continuing in a softer tone, "Lucifer is mine and I don't require your protection. Anyone who comes between us will regret their interference – up to and including Raphael. Instead, I would like your help. Those of you who are willing to help me take over the HELL Corporation from within, meet me in my office on the seventh floor at nine on Monday morning. I'll officially welcome you to HELL."

She rose and met Sarkis' gaze. "I think it might be best if you explain to your colleagues who I am, in order to prevent any future misunderstandings. If you're the staff Raphael summoned here at my request, then you will follow my orders. Or I'll send you back to George and ask for suitable replacements." She inclined her head toward Sarkis. "It was lovely to see you again."

"Yes, ma'am. See you in HELL on Monday morning," he replied firmly.

Mel smiled in response and left the muttering Exousiai behind. Raphael hadn't passed on vital information to any of them. She needed to correct his oversight as soon as possible.

Mel's phone trilled and she answered it.

"Mel? It's Armaros at Reception. I have some angels to see you. They're refusing to sign in as visitors, though. Something about signing devilish documents."

She smothered a laugh. "Ah, I forgot about that. I'll be right down."

Eight angels stood in a loose defensive formation between the reception desk and the door, warily covering every angle. Settling them down would be a challenge. Luckily, she'd cleared her morning schedule for this.

"Follow me, please," she said, holding the door open.

Armaros cleared his throat and looked pointedly at the visitors book.

Mel summoned a smile. "Not necessary. They're under contract to the agency and they'll be working here on a special project for me. That makes them HELL Corporation staff, not visitors."

She led the way to the boardroom. As she passed various demon colleagues, she wished each one a good morning.

She strode to the projector screen and waited for the last angel to close the door grumpily behind him. Instead of sitting like his colleagues, he straightened, taking up a sentry post beside the door.

"I'd like everyone sitting down, please," Mel said softly.

The sentry hesitated and looked askance at Sarkis, who gave a barely perceptible nod. The sentry hurried to a seat.

It's not public speaking. It's just a small meeting, Mel told herself as she took a deep breath. She could feel her knees weakening already. "Welcome to HELL, a corporation staffed by demons under contract to humans. You'll be working alongside them, in cooperation –"

"When Hell freezes over," one man interrupted, catching her eye.

Sarkis jumped to his feet and the man corrected himself, "When Hell freezes over, ma'am."

Mel burst out laughing. "Have you ever seen Hell? Any of you?" Heads shook slowly. "The lowest level in Hell is frozen over. A series of ice lakes used for both punishment and cooling some of the administration areas of Hell, including Lucifer's private office and apartment. Hell froze over thousands of years ago, so it's not an excuse that'll work here."

Glances were exchanged around the table and Mel felt their unease increase, though it couldn't match hers. The longer this took, the more her knees felt like they were going to buckle.

Sarkis cleared his throat. "Ma'am, there was considerable discussion last night about you, Lucifer and Lilith. You do look a lot like her and everyone knows no angel's been into Hell and come out untainted, so it's a lot to take in. Especially when we all saw how close you let Lucifer get yesterday. The boys would like some assurances that you're who you say you are. What with the doors closed and all, it's not like there are any demons around to see. We deal with demons every day and the distrust sort of comes with the territory, so to speak."

Mel nodded. She understood. Closing her eyes, she released the restraints on her power, feeling it flow around her as comfortably as it did in Heaven. Her skin tingled as her lavender linen dress transformed into gold silk. The weight of her wings faded into being, heavier than she remembered, as they stretched from ceiling to floor. She permitted the glow to continue haloing her whole body as it would on a formal occasion in Heaven – this was no time for half measures. These angels could handle the radiance of one of their superiors. Heaven knew she needed all the strength she could muster to do this.

The door moved silently open and Luce sidled in, carrying two cups of coffee. He clicked the door shut behind him and beamed at Mel. "Sorry I'm late. The coffee machine ran out of milk and I had to send Mephi –"

His voice was drowned out by the scrape of eight angelic swords sliding out of their sheaths as the Exousiai moved between Luce and Mel.

Sarkis stood closest to her. "We're here to protect you, ma'am."

Mel sighed. "Not from Luce or my morning coffee. Please put them away, sit down and let me set things straight."

Luce swept past the defensive line and circled the boardroom table until he stood at Mel's side. "I keep my promises," he said, handing over her mug. "And you look heavenly."

She inhaled and brought the macchiato to her lips.

"Ma'am, don't!" Sarkis cried. "You don't know what's in that!"

"Yes she does," Luce responded mildly. "If I've stuffed it up, I'll have to make another cup, and this meeting's running late enough as it is. Now, Mel said to put your swords away and sit down, which sounds like a great idea to me." He enthroned himself in the chair closest to Mel and winked at her over his coffee. "Do you care to wager how long it'll take before they realise they look ridiculous, guarding against an empty threat with weapons so obsolete they belong in a museum? Where did you dig these angels up, Mel? Or are they the best Raphael could find?"

The angels bristled even more, showing no signs of backing down. "We don't take orders from demons," one said, baring his teeth.

Oh Hell. This was harder than she'd imagined. Why couldn't Raphael have briefed them properly so she didn't have to undergo this ordeal? Maybe when she opened her eyes they'd be the friendly angels she was used to and not the cold, hard warriors they turned into in the presence of demons. If only…

Warm fingers enveloped hers and Mel stared down at Luce's reassuring hand. She could do this. She could. And Luce would help her.

She took a deep, calming breath. "Who did George place in command?"

Sarkis bowed. "That would be me, ma'am."

"Good. Sarkis, get your boys to stand down. I don't have all day for this briefing and I want you settled in by lunch. I'd like you to summarise what you've been told and I'll see what I can do to sort this mess out."

"In front of him?" Sarkis jerked his head at Luce.

Luce grinned and slurped his coffee as he stood. "Paranoid Powers. Excuse me, Exousiai. If it'll make it easier for you, Mel, I'll leave. If their orders come from Raphael, I can imagine what they are anyway. They've been told to watch my every move and protect you from me." He kissed her hand. "I'll be waiting in my office until you want me, Mel. I promised you Japanese for lunch and you know I'll deliver."

Mel's fingers tightened around his. "No, I'd like you to stay, Luce. This is ridiculous and it must stop. Gentlemen, may I introduce Luce Iblis, the CEO of the HELL Corporation and we'll be working in cooperation with him as –"

"We also don't cooperate with demons. We hunt them down and banish them back to Hell."

Mel wasn't sure which angel had spoken, but she didn't wait to work it out. She continued, "Luce Iblis, also known as Lucifer, Lord of Hell and he's no longer a demon. So any attempt to banish him to Hell won't work." She paused for a moment to let her words sink in. "Sarkis, for everyone here, could you please describe your chain of command, starting with the highest rank?"

Sarkis coughed. "Well, highest is you, ma'am. After that, Raphael, then St George, then me."

She nodded serenely. "And your orders from George are?"

"Come here and find out what in Hell's going on," he replied promptly.

"From Raphael?"

He hesitated. "Protect you. And no swords."

Blades lowered and slid back into sheaths.

Sarkis swallowed. "Your orders, ma'am?"

Mel smiled. "I'd like you to sit down and listen to what I have to say. Afterwards, you can ask all the questions we have time for. And anyone who doesn't feel that they can conscionably follow my orders may leave."

"No, ma'am."

She raised her eyebrows and Sarkis continued, "Yes and no, ma'am. They'll be sitting and listening, but they won't be leaving. In a hostile situation where a squad of us are surrounded by demons, we follow orders under the chain of command. And we don't desert our comrades in arms. Anyone who can't do that has no place in the Exousiai."

Sarkis and the other angels promptly sat down and gave her their full attention. Scrutiny…oh Hell. She squeezed Luce's hand and felt his love and support flow through the connection.

Mel forced herself to say, "I think you'll find the HELL Corporation is less hostile than you expect."

"No, ma'am. We're in the presence of the Lord of Hell, who, demon or not, has every demon on Earth and in Hell under his command. The only thing I trust a demon to do is raise Hell."

Luce burst out laughing. "I've changed my mind. I like this one." He raised his empty cup to Sarkis.

Sarkis didn't smile.

Mel blew out a breath. "All right. I'd like you boys to form a complaints department here in HELL."

Sarkis looked like he was trying not to laugh, but he managed to compose himself.

She hurried to get the words out before her voice died. "It's not a joke. I'll arrange one of the agency girls to take your calls – Gabi's good with a switchboard, so she'd be my first choice – and your job will be to investigate complaints about anything the HELL Corporation has jurisdiction over. Based on the calls I've fielded, most of them will be from humans, and they'll be human problems for you to investigate and solve within your level of expertise…up to and including working miracles. You'll report direct to me, no one else. Now, if you get a complaint against one or more of the demonic staff here…just like you usually do, I want you to investigate and report back to me on the incident. I'll discuss your preferred course of action with Luce and get back to you on what you're authorised to do."

Mel paused to stare at Sarkis' raised hand. "Yes?"

"I have a question," said Sarkis. "What if the complaint is about a demon inciting city-wide riots? Lots of people injured and lots of property damage…would you consider exile to Hell at sword-point appropriate action?"

"It would depend on the demon and the circumstances, but perhaps –"

"Was it Baraqiel?" Luce interrupted.

Sarkis nodded once.

"Then no. He's supposed to be in Level Eight, serving out a year after his last escape from Hell. Exile's not good enough. This time, I'm going to chain him to something. Several somethings. You do the exile thing and I'll send a note to Geryon to expect him and take care of it when he arrives." He met Mel's stare. "What? I'm still the Lord of Hell. Demons are my problem. I never had the luxury of choosing the perfect person for the job. I make do with those that were dumped in Hell with me. Do you want him in one of the HELL Corporation units instead? He's not trained for anything except causing trouble. No way in Hell do I want him up here in the office again. He's utterly useless for anything but target practice. If they send him back to Hell in pieces, fine by me. He'll fit in a smaller box."

Mel breathed an inward sigh of relief as the tension in the room broke: most of the angels grinned, or at least looked less grim. Yes, this would work. Thank Heaven Luce was an expert at demon wrangling – he'd been doing it for longer than most of the Exousiai. And there was nothing these soldiers respected more than a veteran.